Police Officer Shot Dead In Delta As #EndSARS Protest Turns Bloody

An orgy of violence broke out on Thursday at Otovwodo, Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, when EndSARS protesters and police team clashed.

BIGPEN understands that the violence broke out following the hijack of the protest march by suspected hoodlums who took available of the situation to cause mayhem in the state.

According to an eyewitness, several cars were reportedly destroyed during the protest as some of hoodlums under the guise of protesters whom were apparently agitated, allegedly engaged a team of policemen at Otovwodo junction were the protest march was expected to terminate in the fisticuffs.

In an ensuing melee, suspected hoodlums who hijacked the protest engaged the police in a gun fire, a development which prompted commuters along the East-West road axis of Otovwodo town to scampered for safety, following the series of gunshots that ensued.

BIGPEN reports the protesters had marched through Otovwodo junction axis of Ughelli, to Isoko road, then to market road but boycotted the Ughelli ‘A’ division police station located along the Otovwodo-Isoko road to aviod possible police clash to Ekuigbo and back to Otovwodo junction.

But on getting to Otovwodo junction, some of the protester who drove in a convoy of tens of exotic cars in company of some female protesters, were joined by suspected hoodlums who took advantage of the situation.

According to one of the leaders of the protesters who identified himself as Ochuko, they had decided to boycott the police station in a bid to forestall possible clash with police man at the station.

The sources noted that upon sighting the policemen, the protesters opened fire leading to the death of a policeman while the others fled.

The sources who don’t want their names in print, said: “Several cars were damaged following the pandemonium that ensued as the protesters opened fire on the police team leading to the death of a police corporal.

“The corporal who was on special duty at the scene of the incident identified as Stanley was until his death attached to the Ughelli Police Area Command.”

Meanwhile, state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya was evasive to answer reporters’ question on the incident as of press time. But a senior police source confirmed the story, saying those behind the bloody protest will be arrested and made to face the law.